China-EU Photo: VCG

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday exchanged congratulations with European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and the European Union (EU).

In his message, Xi said China and the EU are comprehensive strategic partners, two major forces promoting multi-polarization, two major markets supporting globalization and two major civilizations advocating diversity.

Xi noted that since the establishment of their diplomatic ties 50 years ago, China and the EU have maintained close exchanges across various levels and sectors, saying that the accomplishments of their dialogue and cooperation are fruitful, cultural and people-to-people exchanges vibrant, and multilateral coordination productive.

He added that China-EU relations have become one of the most influential bilateral relations in the world, contributing greatly to enhancing the well-being of their people, and promoting world peace and development.

Noting that the world is undergoing accelerated changes unseen in a century and human society is once again at a critical crossroads, Xi said a healthy and stable China-EU relationship not only promotes mutual achievements, but also illuminates the world.

Xi said he highly regards the development of China-EU relations, and is ready to work with Costa and von der Leyen to take the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations as an opportunity to review the experience drawn from the development of ties, deepen strategic communication, enhance mutual understanding and trust, strengthen partnership, expand mutual openness, properly handle frictions and differences, and work toward an even brighter future for China-EU relations.

He also called on both sides to remain committed to multilateralism, uphold fairness and justice, oppose unilateralism and bullying, join forces in addressing global challenges, and jointly build an equitable and orderly multipolar world and an inclusive economic globalization, so as to make greater contributions to world peace, stability, development and prosperity.

After half a century of development in bilateral relations, China and the EU have encompassed nearly every aspect of cooperation, including trade, green tech and safeguarding the international order, and creating significant potential for the two sides to expand collaboration, Chinese experts said, noting that the recent surge in US protectionism has heightened such demand. 

However, they cautioned that the EU should not view cooperation with China merely as an option to counterbalance the influence of Washington. Cooperation with China not only benefits Europe but also aligns with current global transformations. 

Asked to comment on the development of China-EU relations over the past 50 years and expectations for future development as Tuesday marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the EU, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian said that over the past 50 years, China and the EU have formed strong economic interdependence. Bilateral trade has surged from US$2.4 billion to US$785.8 billion annually, increasing by more than 300 times.

Lin said that there are many important things on the agenda between China and the EU this year. China welcomes European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's trip to China at appropriate time for a new round of China-EU Summit. Both sides will also hold strategic, economic and trade, environment and climate, and digital high-level dialogues. Starting from today, both sides will hold four high-level receptions in celebration of our diplomatic ties and a series of events in such areas as economy and trade, culture, youth, sports and academy, Lin said. 

Also on Tuesday, Lin announced that as agreed between the two sides, the Chinese side and the European Parliament decided to fully lift reciprocal exchange restrictions simultaneously. 

For publicly known reasons, the exchange between Chinese and EU legislatures has encountered some setbacks over the past few years. Under the current situation, the two sides recognized the importance of enhancing dialogue and cooperation.  We believe and hope that as China and the EU fully resume exchanges between the legislatures, there will be deeper exchanges and understanding, and this will provide new driving force for the sustained, sound and steady growth of China-EU relations, Lin said. 

United against protectionism 

The exchanges between China and Europe have drawn global media attention, amid the background of US tariff war that has wreaked havoc on global trade. Reuters noted that "May 6 marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and the European Union as they work to thaw ties amid global trade uncertainty fueled by sweeping US tariffs."

According to an exclusive interview published by the Daily Telegraph on Saturday, White House trade adviser Peter Navarro claimed that Britain is a "compliant servant" of China, and he claimed that both the UK and the EU are at risk of having their "blood sucked" by Beijing.

In response to Navarro's attack on the UK's China policy, the Independent on Sunday cited sources close to the US administration describing Navarro as "a dangerous influence on the president."

The US media is also closely watching the development of China-EU ties. The Bloomberg published an article shortly after China EU leaders exchanged congratulations on 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties, reported Chinese leader's remarks on fighting against unilateralism. 

An article published by Newsweek in April said that "as relations between the US and China deteriorate, the European Union risks becoming caught in the crosshairs," yet the US effort "to force the EU to choose between the two countries is unlikely to succeed."

British Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves, who visited China in January, said in April that it would be "very foolish" for the United Kingdom to disengage from China, emphasizing the importance of continued economic cooperation, according to Xinhua on April 19, citing Reeves' interview with The Telegraph.

There have been frequent high-level exchanges between China and Europe recently with a slew of European officials visiting China. In March, Italy's Senate President Ignazio La Russa led a delegation to China. Portugal's Minister of State and Foreign Affairs Paulo Rangel also visited China the same month. French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot and European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maros Sefcovic paid visits to China in March. 

In April, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez also visited China. During a meeting between President Xi Jinping and Sanchez, both pledged to build stronger ties and called for safeguarding the international trade order.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and the EU. As a result, frequent exchanges between the two sides are taking place as scheduled, Cui Hongjian, a professor at the Academy of Regional and Global Governance at Beijing Foreign Studies University, told the Global Times, yet he noted that the US protectionism has to some extent aroused the initiative of   Europe to seek ways to prevent protectionism from prevailing. 

In addition to promoting protectionism, the US disregard for European security has enabled Europe to gain a more profound understanding of unilateral hegemony. Cui noted that as China and the EU mark the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations, it is crucial for the two sides to further enhance mutual trust and eliminate various obstacles and external interferences. 

Beyond fending off protectionism 

The strengthening of China-EU ties cannot be simply construed as a joint effort to counter the impact of US unilateralism. After half a century of cooperation, bilateral relations have encompassed a wide range of areas, and such collaboration has firmly bound the two sides together, Jiang Feng, a research fellow at the Shanghai International Studies University and president of the Shanghai Association of Regional and Country Studies, told the Global Times.

Jiang noted that the potential for cooperation derives from their respective needs, as well as their shared obligation to contribute to global peace and development.

"We will not jump into China's arms, but we are open to new opportunities. We would be fools not to use our market as a lever now with the Chinese," said one European official when asked if the EU is pivoting toward China, the South China Morning Post reported.

Former Greek Finance Minister Georgios Papakonstantinou said that Europe now has no option but to get closer to China to brave what he calls the "Trump 2.0 assault on the global order." He sees potential for collaboration between China and EU in areas such as climate change, according to the news outlet Euractiv. 

Against the backdrop of a complex international landscape, the EU should recognize that cooperation with China is not merely an option, nor should it serve as a strategy to fend off US pressure, Cui said, cautioning that if Brussels remains indecisive, it risks eroding China's trust.

Cui further emphasized that the EU ought to view cooperation with China as a strategic imperative. This approach aligns not only with Europe's interests, but it also helps the continent to cope with current shifts in the international landscape.